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By Chris Oddo | Tuesday September 13, 2016

 
Serena

Serena Williams captured her 22nd major title at Wimbledon, but will she be fit enough to provide tennis with a thrilling encore in 2017?

Photo Source: AP

With New York in the books, we take a moment to reflect upon the Grand Slam season that was, looking back at the heroes, zeros, milestones and spectacular achievements that made the Grand Slam season memorable.

1. Multiple Slam Winners

The dust has settled and we have two multiple Grand Slam winners—Angelique Kerber and Novak Djokovic. Kerber finishes on a high, bookending her season with titles at the first major of the year and the last, while Djokovic finishes with a limp, but still is the biggest star of the Slam season on the men’s side. Naturally Djokovic, who became the first ATP player to win the first two majors of the year since 1992, wanted more, but his achievements were remarkable nonetheless. Kerber, who had never won a major or even been to a final, made a strong statement and finishes the Grand Slam season not as a one-Slam wonder, but a two-Slam juggernaut with the No. 1 ranking by her name. Wow.

2. Federer Misses Two Majors

The Swiss Maestro’s record run of 65 consecutive Grand Slams played comes to an end, and we’re left to wonder what Federer will bring to the table in 2017. He missed two majors, but he’s planning to come back with a spring in his step after spending the final five months of the season rehabbing. What will Federer have left at 35 going on 36? We’re curious to see. One thing that we do find promising? Federer was able to get to the Wimbledon semifinals on a bum knee and during his worst season in a long time. If he’s back to good health next year, who knows what he’s capable of?

3. What’s Next for Serena?

Serena Williams tied Steffi Graf on the all-time major title list by winning her 22nd title at Wimbledon. It was a flawless performance, and an inspiring one. But she carried injuries into the year’s final Slam, and exited in the semifinals with more injuries. It begs the question: If Williams can’t stay healthy at majors while playing eight events all season, what does that say about her potential to be fit in 2017? If she’s in perfect health she’s still No. 1 and the rock star of women’s tennis. But right now, in imperfect health, she’s No. 2 and her future is very much in question. Ah, but we’ve been questioning her ever since she’s turned 30 and Williams has WON NINE MAJOR TITLES SINCE! There’s still a lot to prove for Serena Williams, but more than ever a rising cast of potential stars is sensing that she’s vulnerable. It should be a very interesting 2017 Slam season on the women’s side.

4. Can Kerber Follow Through on her Brilliant 2016?

More impressive than Angelique Kerber’s breakthrough major title in Australia was her ability to build on it this summer. She got to her first Wimbledon final then made the Olympic final and the Cincinnati final before winning the U.S. Open. We have been waiting for a player to back up her success like Kerber did for a long time. Now that Kerber has proved that it is possible, with others follow suit? And what about Kerber herself? Now that she’s No. 1 will she run with this and keep making improvements (serve comes to mind) so that she can remain at the top?

5. Three Cheers for Zhang Shuai

The 27-year-old Chinese was 0-14 at the Grand Slam level heading into 2016. She went 7-4 this season at majors with a quarterfinal appearance at the Australian Open. That is a remarkable—and inspiring—turnaround!

6. Stan’s Getting Better with Age

The accomplishments of Stan Wawrinka since the beginning of 2014 are even more impressive than Zhang’s. The Swiss was 4-9 in ATP finals before 2014. Since then Wawrinka has won all 11 ATP finals he has played and he has gone 3-0 at Grand Slam finals, taking out a reigning World No. 1 in each final. Will the legend keep growing in 2017?


7. Biggest Disappointment

Rafael Nadal pulling out of Roland Garros has to be the lowest moment of the Grand Slam season. The Spaniard had finally worked himself into form on the clay and really looked ready to make a run at Roland Garros title No. 10. Of course, it wasn’t the only big disappointment at the Slams in 2016. Djokovic’s loss to Sam Querrey at Wimbledon with the Calendar Slam still in play was tough. Maria Sharapova’s absence due to a drug suspension was devastating. Federer’s absence from Roland Garros and the U.S. Open was just plain depressing.

Victoria Azarenka’s news of impending motherhood was great, but it was tough timing as she was just beginning to look like the best player in women’s tennis again this season.

8. Best at Proving the Doubters Wrong

Venus Williams made her first run to a Grand Slam semifinal in six years at Wimbledon. At 36, Williams has been asked why she hasn’t decided to retire so many times. Note to everybody: This is why! The American still has the game and the desire to make it deep in Slams.

9. Match Point Savers

Angelique Kerber saved a match point in the first round against Misaki Doi en route to her Australian Open title. Stan Wawrinka saved a match point in the third round against Dan Evans en route to the U.S. Open title. Kudos to both for never giving up, and then capitalizing on their momentum to do the unthinkable.

10. Best Singles Final

Angelique Kerber d. Serena Williams, 6-4, 3-6, 6-4, at the Australian Open. There was a lot of drama in this final, and even though the quality of play wasn’t always top-notch it was extremely competitive, as well as somewhat stunning. And the post-match celebration was top of the pops as well.

11. Best Quote

“I prefer the word 'one of the greatest athletes of all time.” – Serena Williams, after the Wimbledon semifinal, when told that she’ll be considered one of the greatest female athletes of all-time. The answer prompted Nike’s ad campaign and has taken the equality in sports argument in another, more positive direction.


12. Most likely to break through in 2017

On the men’s side, look for Dominic Thiem to make a run to a final. His run to the 2016 Roland Garros semifinals is just the beginning for the young Austrian. On the women’s side, we think Madison Keys will get to her first major final, and we think that Daria Kasatkina will get to her first Grand Slam semifinal.

13. Best New Addition

The roof over Arthur Ashe Stadium has already been a godsend for the U.S. Open. Not only does it keep the rain out, it also keeps the wind out and makes for much higher quality tennis on Ashe. The stadium also feels much more intimate and is much more aesthetically pleasing.

14. Best Match Point Reaction

Garbine Muguruza’s match point lob in this year's Roland Garros women's singles final was perfectly placed and it elicited the perfect response. Serena Williams could only smile while Muguruza wore a look of disbelief as if to say DID I REALLY JUST WIN MY FIRST MAJOR TITLE??? Another thought on Muguruza: Don’t drop her off your list of forces to be reckoned with just yet. Remember Muguruza struggled in her next two majors after breaking through to reach the Wimbledon title in 2015. After winning Roland Garros she was bounced early from Wimbledon and New York. Is it time for another run of dominance in Australia?


15. Biggest Milestone Achieved

We’ll rank them in order:

1. Serena Williams 22nd major title at Wimbledon, which ties Steffi Graf
2. Novak Djokovic first French Open title, which made the Serb the 8th player to own the Career Slam.
3. Serena Williams passing Chris Evert, Martina Navratilova and Roger Federer on the all-time Grand Slam wins list.

16. What’s Next for Rafa?

Rafael Nadal hasn’t made the second week of a major since 2015 Roland Garros. He hasn’t made the semifinals of a major since winning Roland Garros in 2014. Can he break through again in 2017? At times he has looked so ready to do that, and one would think that he’s going to make it happen next year, but he seems to run into injuries or a red-hot player each time he gets close. Will his fortunes change in 2017?

17. Most Pleasant Surprise

The return of Juan Martin del Potro to the Grand Slam stage lifted the spirits of tennis fans everywhere. The Tower of Tandil took out Stan Wawrinka at Wimbledon before bowing out to Lucas Pouille in the third round. At the U.S. Open, Del Potro reached the quarterfinals. Not bad for a player that hadn’t been on the Grand Slam stage since the 2014 Australian Open.

18. Biggest ATP Turnaround

Lucas Pouille had a 2-9 record at the majors before Wimbledon. He entered Roland Garros this year on an eight-match losing streak at the majors. Since Wimbledon he has gone 8-2 with two major quarterfinals. Absolutely stunning progression from the 22-year-old.

19. Biggest WTA Bummer

Francesca Schiavone’s streak of 61 consecutive majors played ended at the Australian Open, when she lost in qualifying. The Italian was one short of the all-time record, which is still held by Japan’s Ai Sugiyama. Would have been nice to see the Italian keep the streak rolling, but a wild card would have been too much to ask (we guess).

20. The winds of change are blowing hard.

Novak Djokovic is still on top of the tennis world, but the Serb will only have one more major before he turns 30. Same for Andy Murray. With Federer at 35 and Nadal struggling to make runs at majors at 30, have we seen the last days of the Big 4’s domination at majors already? On the women’s side, Serena Williams will turn 35 in a few weeks. Williams is still the best player in the game when she’s healthy, but how long can she keep winning majors?

Djokovic, Williams and Murray combined to win half of the eight major titles in 2016 (and they claimed nine of the sixteen finals slots)? Will they have that much of an impact in 2017? If not who steps in?


 

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